USDA Seeks Nominees for the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee to fill two producer member seats, three alternate producer member seats, one handler member seat, and one alternate handler member seat whose terms will begin June 1, 2025.  The appointed members will serve two-year terms, except for one alternate producer member, who will serve a one-year term.

Nominations can be made Jan. 28, 2025, during the Nominations Committee meeting, which starts noon PT at the El Sombrero Restaurant, 4 W. Oak St., Walla Walla, Wash.

USDA Issues Final Rules to Revise Grain Inspection Fees and Formulas Used to Calculate Grain Inspection Fees

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued two final rules that affect fees for official inspection and weighing services performed under the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA).

The final rules allow USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) to revise its user fee formulas under the USGSA to establish a set of formulas to calculate hourly and unit fees and finalize the fees introduced in July 2024. The revised formulas and fees will allow FGIS to fully recover service costs and maintain an operating reserve of three to six months.

USDA Revising Section 8e Import Inspection Fee Structure for Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, other Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the regulations governing the inspection and certification of fresh fruits, vegetables and other products to more equitably and accurately assess fees based on actual volume inspected. These changes include using either a per-pound fee structure for certain Section 8e import inspections or a minimum fee equivalent to a two-hour charge computed at the current established hourly rate, whichever is greater; and a 50% reduction to the sublot fee. 

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